Gaillardia plant named ‘Fanfare Showtime’

ABSTRACT

A new variety of Gaillardia plant named ‘Fanfare Showtime’ that is distinguishable by a compact and upright plant habit, large inflorescences composed of bicolored cream-yellow and pink-red tubular ray flowers arranged around a central disc, is disclosed.

Genus and species: Gaillardia x grandiflora.

Variety denomination: ‘Fanfare Showtime’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety ofGaillardia, commonly known as blanket flower, an herbaceous perennialthat is grown for use as an ornamental landscape and container plant.The new plant is known botanically as Gaillardia x grandiflora and willbe referred to hereinafter by the variety name ‘Fanfare Showtime’.Gaillardia is in the family Compositae, under which the commonlyreferred to “flower” is actually the inflorescence, and made up of showyray flowers and small disc florets.

‘Fanfare Showtime’ is the result of a controlled hybridization carriedout in 2014 in West Sussex, England. The male and female parents wereselected from previously hybridized selections which are unreleased andunpatented. The female parent of ‘Fanfare Showtime’ is Gaillardiaseedling ‘G1316-5’ and the male parent of ‘Fanfare Showtime’ isGaillardia seedling ‘G1317-2’.

‘Fanfare Showtime’ was first asexually reproduced in 2015 by rootingsoftwood cuttings in a greenhouse at a nursery in West Sussex, UnitedKingdom. Since that time, ‘Fanfare Showtime’ has been determined to bestable and remains true-to-type in successive generations of asexualreproduction via softwood cuttings.

SUMMARY

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent thedistinguishing characteristics of ‘Fanfare Showtime’. ‘Fanfare Showtime’has not been tested under all possible conditions and phenotypicdifferences may be observed with variations in environmental, climatic,and cultural conditions, without any variance in genotype.

-   -   1. ‘Fanfare Showtime’ exhibits a compact and upright plant        habit.    -   2. ‘Fanfare Showtime’ bears large showy inflorescences composed        of tubular ray flowers arranged around a central disc composed        of numerous small disc florets.    -   3. When fully expanded, the tubular ray flowers of ‘Fanfare        Showtime’ are bi-colored, consisting of pink-red coloration of        the corolla tube and cream-yellow coloration to the petal        apices.    -   4. ‘Fanfare Showtime’ is 30 cm to 35 cm in height and 35 cm to        40 cm in width after one year's growth from a rooted cutting.    -   5. ‘Fanfare Showtime’ is hardy at least to USDA Zone 6.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying color photographs illustrate the overall appearance ofthe new Gaillardia cultivar ‘Fanfare Showtime’ showing the colors astrue as is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions ofthis type. Colors in the photograph may differ from the color valuescited in the detailed botanical description, which more accuratelydescribes the actual colors of the new variety ‘Fanfare Showtime’.

FIG. 1 depicts a whole plant of ‘Fanfare Showtime’ growing outdoors inOxnard, Calif. The plant is one-year-old from a cutting. The photographwas taken in the first week of June 2020 when the variety was firstcoming into full-bloom.

FIG. 2 depicts a fully-expanded inflorescence of ‘Fanfare Showtime’.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed botanical description of the new Gaillardiax grandiflora variety ‘Fanfare Showtime’. Observations, measurements,values and comparisons were compiled in Santa Barbara, Calif. from aone-year-old plant growing in a 2-gallon container. The plant had beengrown in an unheated greenhouse during the rooting stage and transferredto an open-air bed until flowering. Color determinations are made byreference to the 2007 edition of The Royal Horticultural Society ColourChart from London, England, except where general color terms of ordinarysignificance are used.

-   Botanical classification:    -   -   Genus.—Gaillardia.        -   Species.—x grandiflora.        -   Common name.—Blanket flower.-   Parentage:    -   -   Gaillardia x grandiflora ‘Fanfare Showtime’ was selected as            seedling which resulted from the controlled cross of the            following parent plants.—Female parent: Proprietary            Gaillardia seedling ‘G1316-5’. Male parent: Proprietary            Gaillardia seedling ‘G1317-2’.-   Plant:    -   -   Propagation method.—Softwood cuttings.        -   Rooting system.—Fine and fibrous.        -   Vigor.—Moderate vigor.        -   Time to develop roots.—14 to 20 days are needed for an            initial cutting to develop roots.        -   Temperature to develop roots.—The recommended air            temperature is 20 to 21° Centigrade.        -   Crop time.—Approximately 12 weeks to first flowering from            planting a rooted cutting.        -   Growth habit.—Compact, low growing and upright.        -   Branching habit.—Lateral branching is encouraged by pinching            or stopping the stem at 5 cm to 8 cm above the growing            surface.        -   Suggested container size.—1-gallon container.        -   Use.—Ornamental for use as a landscape plant or container            plant.        -   Type.—Herbaceous perennial.        -   Height of plant.—30 cm to 35 cm.        -   Width of plant.—35 cm to 40 cm.        -   Cultural requirements.—Grow in full sun with moderate water,            avoiding drying out or saturation.        -   Resistance or susceptibility to diseases and pests.—In            common with all plants of the genus, ‘Fanfare Showtime’ is            susceptible to bacterial pathogens associated with            overwatering, and to feeding by thrips Thysanoptera) and            aphids (Aphididae).        -   Hardiness.—Survives in USDA Hardiness Zone 6 (not tested in            colder zones).        -   Flowering period.—Flowering will commence typically in May            or June according to the region and season and will continue            until September or October.-   Stem, branches:    -   -   Stem dimensions.—5 cm to 8 cm in length if pinched or            stopped at that height, 5 mm in diameter at the base.        -   Stem color.—145B.        -   Stem shape.—Round.        -   Stem surface.—Villous, hairs fine, 2 mm in length, color            NN155C.        -   Branches.—3 to 5 lateral branches if main stem is pinched or            stopped at 5 cm to 8 cm in height.        -   Lateral branch dimensions.—15 cm to 20 cm in length, 3 mm to            4 mm in diameter.        -   Lateral branch color, shape, surface.—RHS 145B.-   Foliage:    -   -   Type.—Evergreen.        -   Leaf arrangement.—Alternate.        -   Leaf form.—Simple.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Leaf shape.—Oblanceolate.        -   Leaf length.—10 cm in length.        -   Leaf width.—1.5 cm to 2.0 cm in width.        -   Leaf base.—Attenuate.        -   Leaf apex.—Rounded.        -   Leaf venation pattern.—Pinnate.        -   Midrib vein.—Prominent, broad, up to 2 mm in width towards            base, raised 0.5 mm on abaxial surface.        -   Vein color (both surfaces).—193C.        -   Leaf surface (both surfaces).—Pubescent.        -   Leaf surface (adaxial surface).—Pubescent, hairs very short            and fine, color NN155C.        -   Leaf attachment.—Sessile.        -   Leaf color (both surfaces).—138A.        -   Fragrance.—Sage-like scent, strong when rubbed.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Inflorescence.—Solitary.        -   Aspect.—Facing upward.        -   Dimensions of inflorescence.—75 mm in diameter and 20 mm in            depth.        -   Inflorescence type.—Radiate capitate.        -   Inflorescence shape.—Radiate with center disc.        -   Number of inflorescences per plant.—Approximately 30            inflorescences in colored bud and flower at one time.        -   Blooming season.—Spring, summer and fall.        -   Peduncle dimensions (above uppermost leaf).—Length varies            between 2 cm and 10 cm, diameter 2.5 mm to 3.0 mm.        -   Peduncle shape.—Cylindrical.        -   Peduncle surface.—Surface is pubescent and exhibits            longitudinal parallel ridges 0.5 mm apart.        -   Peduncle color.—Ridges 145B alternating with 138A between            ridges.        -   Peduncle strength.—Very stiff.-   Bud:    -   -   Shape.—Rotate whorl.        -   Dimensions (immediately prior to cracking color).—12 mm in            diameter, 10 mm in depth.        -   Color.—138B.-   Ray flowers:    -   -   Ray flower shape.—Tubular.        -   Ray flower surface (both surfaces).—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Ray flower arrangement.—Radiate.        -   Number of ray flowers per inflorescence.—20 to 25.        -   Number of petals per ray flower.—Four.        -   Fused or unfused.—Petals are partially longitudinally fused            to form corolla tube.        -   Petal margins of ray flowers.—Entire.        -   Ray flower dimensions (overall, from base of corolla tube to            petal apices).—28 mm in length, up to 25 mm in width            measured across petal apices.        -   Corolla tube dimensions (petals fully fused).—9 mm in            length, 2 mm in diameter at tube base.        -   Corolla tube color (both surfaces).—52A.        -   Color of ray flower petals (both surfaces).—52A with            longitudinal stripes 47B.        -   Color of ray flower petal flared apices.—Initially 52A with            stripes 47B becoming entirely cream-yellow 13B to 13C            towards and at petal apex.        -   Self-cleaning or persistent.—Self-cleaning.-   Disc florets:    -   -   Quantity of disc florets per inflorescence.—Approximately 80            disc florets per inflorescence.        -   Disc dimensions.—25 mm.        -   Disc floret dimensions.—10 mm. in length and 3 mm in            diameter.        -   Disc floret corolla tube.—6 mm in length.        -   Surface of disc florets.—Lanate.        -   Disc floret color.—187C.        -   Chaff (surrounds disc floret corolla tube).—Translucent,            paper-like, 6 mm in length, bearing 3 or 4 hair-like spurs,            3 mm to 4 mm in length.        -   Chaff color, including spurs.—155A.        -   Phyllary dimensions.—3 cm. in diameter and 1 cm. in height.        -   Phyllary color.—147B.        -   Phyllary arrangement.—Whorl.        -   Number of involucral bracts.—An average of 25 in number per            inflorescence.        -   Shape of involucral bract.—Oblanceolate.        -   Involucral bract arrangement.—2 to 3 layered whorls,            typically 8 large bracts in lowest whorl, and approximately            14 smaller bracts in upper whorls.        -   Involucral bract dimensions (lowest whorl).—14 mm in length,            6 mm in width.        -   Involucral bract dimensions (upper whorls).—10 mm in length,            3.5 mm in width.        -   Involucral bract margin.—Entire.        -   Involucral bract apex.—Acute.        -   Involucral bract base.—Truncate.        -   Involucral bract color (both surfaces).—143B.        -   Involucral bract surface (both surfaces).—Pubescent.        -   Involucral bract surface (adaxial surface).—Lightly            pubescent, hairs 1 mm to 2 mm in length, color NN155C.        -   Fragrance of inflorescence.—Very slight only when closely            observed.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Number of stamens.—3 to 5.        -   Stamen dimensions.—2 mm to 3 mm. in length, less than 0.5 mm            in diameter.        -   Stamen color.—21B.        -   Stamen form.—Plumose.        -   Anthers.—Ellipsoidal, 0.50 mm in length and less than 0.5 mm            in width.        -   Anther color.—166B.        -   Pollen.—Present, copious amount.        -   Pollen color.—9A.        -   Pistil.—1, strongly exserted, 12 mm in length, less than 0.5            mm in diameter.        -   Stigma.—8 mm in length, upper 4 mm bifurcated, reflexed.        -   Stigma color.—166B.        -   Ovary.—Position inferior, shape globose, observed immature,            diameter 1.5 mm, color 157D.        -   Seed.—No seed has been observed.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL LINES AND KNOWN VARIETY

‘Fanfare Showtime’ exhibits the following characteristics of the maleand female parents. The male parent ‘G1317-2’ bears cream and light-pinkcolored fluted petals. The female parent ‘G1316-5’ bears cream andcopper-colored fluted petals and has a compact plant habit. Incomparison with the male parent, ‘Fanfare Showtime’ has a more compacthabit, darker pink coloration to the fluted petals and a largerinflorescence. In comparison with the female parent, ‘Fanfare Showtime’is more vigorous and bears pink-red rather than copper colored flutedpetals.

The most similar variety of Gaillardia relative to ‘Fanfare Showtime’ isGaillardia ‘Fanfare’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,892). Both ‘Fanfare’ and‘Fanfare Showtime’ bear bi-colored tubular ray flowers. The flowers of‘Fanfare Showtime’ are cream and pink-red in color when fully expanded,whereas the flowers of ‘Fanfare’ are yellow-orange and bright red incolor at all stages. ‘Fanfare Showtime’ presents a softer and more mutedappearance in the garden and landscape. In addition, whereas ‘Fanfare’grows with a slightly spreading plant habit, the plant habit of ‘FanfareShowtime’ is upright and shorter in overall height.

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Gaillardia x grandifloraplant named ‘Fanfare Showtime’ as described and illustrated.